Election Reform

marym625

(17,997 posts) Thu Sep 4, 2014, 07:50 AM Sep 2014

DEFEAT CITIZENS UNITED - CONTACT YOUR SENATORS

DEFEAT CITIZENS UNITED

We have to get money out of politics.

Contact your Senators to support the Constitutional Amendment that will overturn Citizens United. Vote is September 8, 2014

Common Cause is the lead organization to get money out of politics. Contact your State Common Cause or go to their natural website. http://www.commoncause.org/

From the Common Cause Illinois Team

Dear Common Cause Supporter,

The United States Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment that will overturn the Citizens United decision, and ensure that our democracy is not sold to the highest bidder.

Right now, 50 senators, including Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, support this amendment, but we need the support of more senators to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass this important piece of legislation.

Given his record, we believe that Senator Mark Kirk can be persuaded to support this measure, but we need your help.

There are two ways that you can get involved and stand up for your democracy.

1) Attend the Senator Kirk Democracy For All rally, at his office in downtown Chicago, where we will deliver signatures in support of this amendment. The event is September 3 at noon.Please RSVP for the rally and learn more about the issues from our coalition.

2) Call Senator Kirk at 202-224-2854 or email his office, and ask him to support this important piece of campaign finance reform legislation, S.J. Res. 19--the Democracy for All Amendment.

Senator Kirk's vote would help start serious campaign finance reform. We need you to tell him that you support campaign finance reform and overturning Citizens United.

You can learn more about Common Cause's work to combat the power of big money in politics on our website.

Democracy is in your hands.

Rey Lopez-Calderon

and the Common Cause Illinois Team

10 replies

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DEFEAT CITIZENS UNITED - CONTACT YOUR SENATORS (Original Post) marym625 Sep 2014 OP

It would be a good start. However, there was plenty of money in politics, including from overseas, merrily Sep 2014 #1

The Amendment marym625 Sep 2014 #2

It is not self-executing, though. merrily Sep 2014 #3

What do you suggest? n/t marym625 Sep 2014 #4

I already suggested it: Know that this is a good and necessary step, but do not be under merrily Sep 2014 #5

Oh I have no illusion marym625 Sep 2014 #6

I used "you" in the sense of anyone, not you personally. merrily Sep 2014 #7

I agree marym625 Sep 2014 #8

We can't give up. We need to look for ways to be more effective, tho. merrily Sep 2014 #9

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #10

merrily

(45,251 posts)

1. It would be a good start. However, there was plenty of money in politics, including from overseas,

Reply to marym625 (Original post)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 07:57 AM

Sep 2014

before Citizens' United was decided. So, repealing CU alone is not going to get money out of politics.

I want to see it happen, but I don't want anyone to think that would be the be all and end all of getting money out of politics.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

2. The Amendment

Reply to merrily (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:05 AM

Sep 2014

Would not just address CU. My headline is to, hopefully, draw attention to this. We need to get people to contact their Senators.

Here's the text of SJ RES 19

https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/19/text

merrily

(45,251 posts)

3. It is not self-executing, though.

Reply to marym625 (Reply #2)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:09 AM

Sep 2014

"Congress shall have the power to-----" does not mean Congress will.

Before CU, everyone, including Congress, thought Congress had the power to get money out of politics. It chose not to. All we got was McCain Feingold, which is voluntary.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

4. What do you suggest? n/t

Reply to merrily (Reply #3)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:21 AM

Sep 2014

merrily

(45,251 posts)

5. I already suggested it: Know that this is a good and necessary step, but do not be under

Reply to marym625 (Reply #4)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:24 AM

Sep 2014

the illusion that it is the total fix.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

6. Oh I have no illusion

Reply to merrily (Reply #5)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:30 AM

Sep 2014

This is a fix all. I just want there to be something to address this. The insanity that has been happening with the money in elections has to stop.

I realize you said you want this to happen. I just wanted to know what else you think we should do.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

7. I used "you" in the sense of anyone, not you personally.

Reply to marym625 (Reply #6)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 08:36 AM

Sep 2014

I just wanted to know what else you think we should do.

We could make some portion of the amendment self-executing, but the drafting would be complicated and it would probably never emerge from Congress. I have my doubts that even this will emerge from Congress. And, if it does emerge, I have my doubts about ratification. Hell, Republicans managed to put an amendment granting women equal rights in limbo for the past forty or so years. I don't think they are going to leave this one alone, assuming it ever makes it out of the Senate.

Still we should try because, unless the citizenry overrules Citizen's by a Constitutional amendment, there is no hope at all.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

8. I agree

Reply to merrily (Reply #7)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 09:29 AM

Sep 2014

But I am hopelessly hopeful.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

9. We can't give up. We need to look for ways to be more effective, tho.

Reply to marym625 (Reply #8)

Thu Sep 4, 2014, 11:20 AM

Sep 2014

Response to marym625 (Original post)

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